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Show Peg 12 Thursday December 1 Its been a long time since a womens basketball team has failed to make it to the state playoffs, in fact theyve never not Roy made it. Radene Johnson takes over from coaching duties in 79-8-0 Dan Sheffer who guided the team last season but was forced to drop the sport due to conflictions with spring track. Despite going to state every year, Roy has never placed in the season ending tournament. Will 79-8- 0 Sporh 3, 979 1 Nykele Gagon, a sophomore from Roy Junior High. Nykele originally comes from Orem where she gained a lot of ' . valuable experience playing in junior high as an eighth grader. In Roys preseason loss to Bear Nykele poured in a River, 49-4- 1, 17 points. Coach Johnson was critical of the fiict Roy and other Weber County high schools do not have game-hig- h rebounding and defense her strongest attributes, is a returning letterman that will give Roy a strong point. Two more returning lettermen are Mary Courney and Diane Owens, the latter a guard. Pam King will be Johnsons sixth player. They call her snake around Roy because of her ability to slime in among bigger players and snag bring better fortunes? Coach Johnson says not to expect too much. The Royals will field a young team, which is dotted with good seniors but of whom most have had little varsity experience. Among those returning from last seasons fourth place team are Caroline Smith, who is a proven athlete in region play. She was most recently selected to the 1979 Region One Womens Volleyball All-Stsquad. After a strong season of rebounding and inside shooting, Caroline was chosen by her teammates as the MVP on the . rebounds. Becky Coach Royals team. are some other women that return or are new comers that will make Roy something to contend with this season. One of those newcomers THINGS SHOULD LOOK UP for the Roy women's basketball team this year. With Beckie Coach Radene Johnson and Caroline Smith leading the way, it's no wonder. lEveryGns . almost Clearfield single-handil- y Wid-diso- n, is Margo has brought 'em back! Coach Margo Jones, who has built womens High basketball, volleyball and track programs over the past decade, could have some more trophies in her case before the present cage season comes to a close. The Falcon women have to be a favorite to capture the region basketball title with all five 1979 starters returning. A year ago, Clearfield finished second in the . Sodenkamp, Kathy Ewing, Kim Harbour, Mary Ann Thiem and Barbara Miller are juniors with the Royals while Betty Courney, Wendy Perry and Charlene John come into the program as the top sophomores. ar There A feeder programs. good feeder program as she described it is the junior high programs of which there is no girls basketball set-u- p in them. Nykele is a good example of how a little experience before high school can help a team out, said Johnson. Other Girls with Beckie Widdison, ks league with the same tandem that returns this year. What's it been like since 1977 when Clearfield claimed the state championship? Patience being tried at its But its max, said Jones, finally paid off." And what was it like losing two games to eventual Region One champion, Viewmont, by one point in both games? Frustrating," added Jones, But thats like I guess. . Johnson expects Clearfield to take the region championship because of their five starters that return and the fact they took second in region last season. Gangs? pomtistfl snI OnlS Karleen Peart' returns as Clearfields top performer this year and may very very well be one of the top players in the league. Karleen averaged 28 points per game last season. The Clearfield senior is credited by Utah college coaches as one of the top talented players in the state. Last summer Karleen received valuable experience from top coaches in the country while she attended a basketball camp at Washington State University. Her improvement since her sophomore year has been impressive, starting out as the sixth player that year and starting the star has past two years. The played center in the past but may be moved to a strong forward slot 5-- this season. Strength Returns Behind Karleen there returns some other top performers. Some of those include Cindy Rush, who after knee surgery sat out the season. Jones says Rush could be a starter as she progresses. Marco Lusk, a guard, is a senior' with excellent ball handling and good defensive skills. Marco is the kind of player that can reduce anyones scoring average by 10, said Jones. Becky Spaulding, a 541 senior guard, is usually on the scoring ends of most fast breaks. Cindy Clark is a 8 senior 5-- 8 5-- forward who gives Clearfield strength with her perimeter shooting. Junior Donna Brown is a strong rebounder and if she returns from an injury she has sustained early this year, she will aid Gearfiekis chances greatly. Two more seniors that will add depth to the Falcons cage team include Kendahlle Brandenburg and Robin Murray. Both have worked gradually in junior varsity last season and both play the forward position. Jennifer Beene, sophomore; Lindy Fisher, junior and Lori Hutchison, sophomore will see some action as the season moves along. Goal To Win Region Our goal is to take region, said Jones, If we play to our potential and lose that goal, we'll accept it. But if we dont reach our potential, we have room to be disappointed." Jones said she hadnt felt this good about a team of hers since the year Jackie Beene and her teammates helped Gearfield take the state championship. Clearfield began its season with a 3 win over 69-3- pre-seaso- Ben Lomond. n |